The City of Redding may consider levying a special “Tobacco Retailer License” that would raise the price of a pack of cigarettes above the already heavy tax burden borne by smokers. Redding has 119 tobacco retailers but, unlike many California cities this size, there’s no registration or fee required beyond the $265 annual state fee for selling tobacco. Redding Police are getting revenue of $1,500 from the state each time they perform a minor decoy tobacco sting operation, which they’ve agreed to do 10 to 12 times per year. A presentation will be made to the City Council during next Tuesday’s meeting, and the special license may be considered sometime in the future.
-Steve Gibson